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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. T. MAYHEW.

RBGBPTAGLB POR PolsoNs.

No. 348,227. Patented Aug. 81, 1886,

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N. Patins Pham-ummm". wnhinmm ngc.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. MAYHEW.

RBGEPTAGLB FOR POISONS. No. 348,227. Patented Aug. s1, 1886.

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N. PETERS. PholoUihognpNr. Walhlnon. l)4 C,

NITED STATES PATENT Error..

THEOIHILUS MAYHEVV, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECEPTACLE FOR POISONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,227, dated August31, 1886.

Application filed March 526, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEorI-HLUs MAYrrnw, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York,in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receptaclesfor Poisons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a case or receptacle for poisons, and is for thepurpose of preventing such mistakes in compounding prescriptions ordispensing poisonous drugs as might happen through the inadvertence 'ofthe druggist or the misplacing of bottles.

It consists, as hereinafter more fully set forth, of aseries of drawersor slides for receiving and retaining the drugs, said drawers or slidesbeing mounted in a frame or case, and provided each with a catch orlatch, arranged so that in their normal condition the drawers will hesecured in the frame, but may be unlatched and removed one, but onlyone, at a time. The locking mechanism of the several drawers or slidesis formed and connected so that the movement of unlocking or removingone drawer will disconnect or block the mechanism for opening orremoving those remaining. To prevent the removal of the wrong receptaclethrough inadvertence, the unlocking mechanism is constructed so thatbefore it can be operated an index or other device must be moved orplaced in an appropriate position for the drug or poison needed, and toso prepare for the removal of the drug from the case it will benecessary for the person wishing the same to apply his mind directly tothe operation. To still further guard against error, I prefer to use twoseparate indicating devices, both of which must be placed before thereceptacle can be withdrawn from the ease. There are several forms inwhich the locking and unlocking mechanism can be operated to retain orrelease the drawers, and I have shown, as a modification of my device, alocking device which is entirely mechanical and positive in itsoperation. I prefer, however,

to construct the device so that the unlocking will be accomplishedthrough the agency of electro-magnets, as electric currents are moreeasily controlled, require no exact adjustment, and are less liable tobecome deranged through rough handling.

Serial No. 196,652. (No model.)

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the casecomplete. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same with the back of the caseremoved to show its interior construction. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionthrough one of the slides and its locking mechanism on line x :c of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line yy of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the rear portion of the removable slide. Fig. 6shows a modification in the slide. Figs. 7 and S are respectivelysections on lines e z and a u of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a rear view of adetached portion of a casein which the locking and unlocking is done bypurely mechanical means, without the use of electro-magnets, and Fig. 10is a vertical section on line v t of Fig. 9.

A is a rectangular case open in front and divided by partitions, asfollows: first, by a vertical partition, c, extending from front torear, then on one side of this vertical partition by horizontal shelvesc, extending from front to rear of the case. The spaces between thesehorizontal shelves are divided by vertical partitions c2, extending fromthe bottom of one shelf to a point above the next lower shelf, and at adistance therefrom equal to the thickness of the drawer or slide whichis to be used. The spaces between the lower edge of the partitions a2are divided by guide-strips c, running from front to rear of the ease,to form channels or ways, into which are fitted drawers or slides B.These slides B are preferably made as shown-that is, of a dat piece of alength to reach from front to rear of the case. That part of the slide Bwhich is in front of the partition a? is made to receive and retain abottle, b, secured thereto by any suitable means. I have shown thisslide as having an opening cut therein to receive the lower end of thebottle, which may be secured either by cement or by means of aclamp-ring, as shown in Fig. (i. This front portion of the slide mayalso be made in the (form of a box or drawer. At the rear end of each ofthe slides I3 is formed a detent-notch, b', and levers C are pivoted tothe rear side of the partitions ce2-one over each slide-so that when theslide is pushed in the free end of the lever will drop into thedetent-notch b and prevent the relnoval of the slide.

Immediately over each of the pivoted levers IOO or latches C, andsecured to the rear side ot' the partition a", is an electro-magnet, D,preferably made double, as shown, and an iron armature, E,issecured toeach of the levers C.

Attached to the rear edge of the shelves a are contact-plates F, soplaced and of such a size and form that each will extend up and projectfor a short distance over the rear end of the adjacent sides of two ofthe slides B and bear thereon. These plates F, and more es'- peciallythe portion of them which projects over the slides, are made of springmetal. Extending horizontally across from side to side of the slides B,near their rear ends, are metallic conductors G, terminating in contactplates or knobs g g-one at either side of the slideinrposition tocontact with the plates F when the drawers are in place, and completewith the plates F a continuous electric conductor from end to end ofeach shelf a2, and these conductors thus formed on the several shelvesare connected in series throughout the case.

In the compartment of the ease A which is not occupied by the slides Bis placed a switchboard, H, carrying one or two sets of electricswitches, I I', there being 'a switch in'each set for each slide B.Theseswitches may be made of any well-known form; but I prefer to makethem as shown in Figs..1, 2,A and 7, wherein metal plates i i are madeto project from opposite sides of an opening in the switch-board,through which a metallic plug, K, may be passed to form an electricconnect-ion between the plates t' i. It will of course be understoodthatY the conducting-wire is led to one of the plates i and from theother. Upon the face of the switch-board, and adjacent to the open' ingsthrough which the switch-plug is to be inserted, are placed tags orlabels, each to indicate which circuit is controlled by that particularswitch.

An electric conductor, L, is made to traverse the spaces to the rear ofthe electro-magnets L5 @d and is connected at one end to one end of A;series of conductors formed by the plates I1 v d conductors G, of theslides. The second end of the conductor, formed by the plates F andconductors G, is connected through an open-circuit switch M, preferablyin the form of a push-button, as shown in Fig. 8, with one pole of anelectric battery, N. The second pole of the batteryN is connectedthrough a conductor, n, with one plate of each of the switches I, andthe second plate of each of these switches is connected with the firstplate of one of the switches I. The second plate of each of the switchesI is connected with one end of one of the electro-magnet coils, andthesecond end of each of these coils is connected, with the conductor L, tothe platesF and to the battery.

It will be seen from the above that the cir cuit through eachmagnet-coil includes one of the switches I, one of the switches I, allof the plates F, and all of the conductors G, also the open switch M andthe electric battery N.

To close the circuit through any one o'f the magnet-coils, it isnecessary to `insert the plugs in the two switches I Iincluded in thatcircuit, and then close the switch M. On this being done the magnet Dwill raise the armature E and the lever C,to whichit is attached, thussetting free the slide B. In connecting the circuits through theswitches I l', the two switches in any single circuit should not bc neartogetheron theswitch-board, and are preferably so arranged that theswitches of the several circuits shall be interspersed upon theswitch-board, to compel a Search when it is desired to work theswitches. As soon, however, as one ofthe slides B is removed, and withit the conductor G, the circuit will be broken, and a second circuitcannot be closed till the slide B is returned to its place.

In order to insure the locking of the slide B when it is returned to itsplace, and to pre vent a second slide being removed before the first isproperly locked, the latch-lever Gis made of such a length that it willdrop into the detent-notch before the slide is fully back to its place..The contacts g of the slide are so placed that the latch-lever E musthave droppedinto the detent-notch in the slide before contactwill bemade within the plates F. To prevent the breaking of the circuit by thecontacts g on the slide being withdrawn from the plates F before thelatch-lever is freed,

from the Slidedctent, projecting arms O are formed upon the adjacentedges of the plates F, and these arms are made to terminate immediatelyover the latch-lever C, so that when said lever is raised by theelectro-magnet D it will Contact with the two arms O and hold the cir-`cuit complete, even after the slide is withdrawn, till the push-contactM is released.

In Figs. 9 and l() I have shown a modification of the locking device. Bare the slides. b are pins projecting upward, one from the rear end ofeach slide. B is a plate or rod extending along over the slides and infront of the pins b4, working through guides, and having notches r atintervals along its lower edge through which the pins b4 may pass toallow the slides to be withdrawn when the notches are brought intoregister therewith. These notches r r are so placed along the rod B.that no two notches will be in register with their respective pins atthe same time. A spring-actuated lever, O', is pivoted behind the slideB and made to carry a pin or lug, o. This lever is normally held back bythe slide B; but when the slide is removed the lever will advance andinsert the pin o into the notch in the rod R, through which the pin b*on the slide has passed, and will prevent the movement of the rod tofree another slide till the one already removed is replaced. The bar Ris moved by means of atoothed rack,i",for1ned at-one end, into which ismade to gear a toothed pinion, S, mounted upon a shaft, s, extendingthrough the case and operated by a handle upon the outside.

Two or more ofthese bars B may be used and their notches r',

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differently spaced, so that it will be necessary for the operator towork out a combination before releasing the receptacle wherein is storedthe particular drug which he wishes to use. Other mechanism may be usedto perform this locking without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

W'hat I claim is- 1. In a case or receptacle for poisons, thecombination of a series of detachable slides adapted to supportreceptacles, and locking mechanism, substantially such as described, tocontrol the removal of said slides, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a case or receptacle for poisons, a series of detachable slidescarrying` receptacles, and locking mechanism for retaining the same intheir closed positions, adapted to permit one only of said slides to beremoved from the case at a time, and preventing the removal of a secondslide till such time as the first shall have been returned, as setforth.

3. In a case or cabinet for poisons, the combination, with two or moresliding receptacles, of a locking device for each of said receptacles,and a lock-operating mechanism common to all of said receptacle-lockingdevices, the combination being such, as de scribed, that it isimpossible to have removed from the case or cabinet more than onereceptacle at a time, all as set forth.

4. In a case or receptacle for poisons, a receptacle consisting of abase-piece adapted to slide in guideways formed in the case, and havingattached to it a bottle or receptacle, in combination with anelectro-magnetic locking device for retaining or releasing said slide,as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a'case or receptacle for poisons, the combination of two or moresliding receptacles, a pivoted latch-lever for cach slide, an armatureattached to cach latch-lever, electromagnets located in position each tooperate one of the pivoted latch levers, contact -plates bridging overthe spaces between the sliding receptacles, electric conductors arrangedon each sliding receptacle, and provided with contact-points to bearupon the bridging contact-plates on opposite sides of the receptacleswhen the latter are closed, an electric generator, a number of circuitsextending from one pole of the generator, each passing through one ormore controlling-switches, one of the electro-magnets, all of thebridging contactplates, and the conductors on the receptacles through acircuit-closer common to all, and back to the other pole of the electricgenerator, as and for thc purpose set forth.

6. In a case or receptacle for poisons, the combination. of a slidecarrying a receptacle and working within guideways in a supporting frameor shelf, a lock orlatch for said slide operated by an electro-magnet,and adapted to engage a stop on said slide, two insulated contact-platesbearing upon the slide when closed, and connected across the slide by anelectric conductor arranged thereon, and adapted to make said connectionafter the slide has been latched or locked, and to break the saidconnection during the withdrawal of the receptacle from the case, anelectric circuit passing from an electricv generator through agoverning-switch, the electro-magnet coils to and through thecontact-plates across the conductor on the receptacle and back to theelectric generator, and two auxiliary contact-plates connected one toeach of the main contactplates, and arranged over the pivoted latchleverin position to make contact with the latter when itis raised by theelectro-magnet, all as and for the purpose set forth.

7 In a case or receptacle for poisons, the combination, with two or morereceptacles, locking mechanism for said receptacles, and electro-magnetsadapted to operate said locking mechanism, of au electric circuit foreach of said electro-magnets passing through one or morecontrolling-switches, all as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a case or receptacle for poisons, the con'ibination, with a seriesof receptacles, an electro-magnetic locking device for retaining each ofsaid receptaclcsin the supporting-case, and an electric circuit for eachof said locking devices, of two or more switches connected in each ofthe electric circuits, the switches of the several circuits beinginterspersed or intermiXcd on theV switch-board, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York.

TI-IEOPHILUS MAYHEVV.

Vitnesses:

ANDREW W. STEIGER, J Aeon FELBEL.

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